July 7, 2011

Some describe it as "... stinks like a diaper." Others have compared the smell to "sour milk, wet dog, moldy hay, potatoes, an old shoe or dirty socks, a jacket that's never been to the dry cleaner, and an oily smell mixed with vomit." The most unusual description we've heard was "... sort of a cross between Dorito's Bold BBQ chips and cinnamon (and not a sweet smell, actually kinda foul) and maybe a hint of cheese." And, finally, one unfortunate reader told us that "my hair is so smelly that sometimes flies buzz around my head."

My oldest daughter had this problem from the time she was an infant until she was about 2. It was really puzzling, her head always had an "off" smell (not too bad, but definitely not pleasant) even shortly after a bath.

My young daughter developed this one summer. In addition to the smell, she also had lesions. It was nasty.

The doctors were no help whatsoever and made no suggestions for a cure. They probably just chalked it up to bad hygiene.

I eventually determined that the cause was an algae infestation from attending a swimming party in our local lake which gets rather yucky late in the summer. I never go swimming in the lake because of the poor water conditions and I am very allergic to the algae and break out in hives when exposed to the gross water. Up until then she didn't have any reactions to the water so I assumed it was just me.

We cut her hair very short (she cried and hated it...sorry). Used sulphur based shampoo followed with a mild vinegar rinse, to change the PH of her skin and made sure to blow dry the hair and scalp thoroughly. Twice a day in the beginning.

The lesions we treated with a basic anti-biotic gel. After 4 months it was gone never to return.

Crack will be glad to know that we didn't use any crystals or try to get the positive vibes of mother Gaia to create harmony.

homepaths are friggin nuts, but after a bout of acid reflux I saw on the web that the Amish use apple cider vinegar to fix it. Vinegar for acid reflux?

I tried it and the stuff worked like a charm. My gastrointestinal buddy said he prescribes it too (I would have called him first but it hit at 2:00 a.m). He says the mild acid and the vinegar salts trick your stomach into shutting off its own acid pump.